If you typed "Ayurvedic doctor NJ" into a search bar, the most useful fact to start with is this: New Jersey does not license Ayurvedic practitioners. No state does. That means the words "Ayurvedic doctor" on a website or a sign do not, by themselves, tell you what training the person has or what they are allowed to do. This guide explains how Ayurveda is regulated in the United States and in New Jersey, which credentials are worth asking about and how to check them, how Ayurveda can sit safely alongside the care you get from your physician, why product safety deserves real attention, and what happens in a first Ayurvedic consultation at our clinic in South Plainfield.
We have tried to keep it practical. Where something is uncertain, including the research, we say so.
How Ayurveda is regulated in the US and in New Jersey
Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of India. In the United States it is used by a relatively small group of people: the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health, puts the number at about 240,000 American adults. NCCIH also states plainly that there is no significant regulation of Ayurvedic practice or education in this country and that no state requires an Ayurvedic practitioner to hold a license. You can read that on the NCCIH Ayurvedic medicine page.
New Jersey follows that pattern. The state licenses many health professions through the Division of Consumer Affairs, including physicians and acupuncturists. Acupuncturists, for example, are licensed and disciplined by the Acupuncture Examining Board. There is no equivalent board or license for Ayurveda. In practice, this has three consequences for you as a patient.
- Anyone can use the title. Because there is no protected Ayurvedic license, the phrase "Ayurvedic doctor" is not checked by the state. Some people who use it have years of formal medical training. Others have taken a short course.
- The person's other license matters. If a practitioner also holds a New Jersey license, such as a medical, nursing or acupuncture license, that license sets what they may legally do and gives you a board to complain to if something goes wrong. If they hold no license at all, there is no state body overseeing their practice.
- The products are not reviewed before sale. Many herbal products taken by mouth are sold in the US as dietary supplements. As NCCIH explains on its ashwagandha fact sheet, supplements are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration before they reach the public, and the rules for making them are less strict than the rules for drugs. The manufacturer is responsible for safety and labeling.
The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), the main US professional body, makes the same point from the profession's side. Its article on unlicensed practice notes that there is no licensure for Ayurveda and that every state's medical practice law forbids practicing medicine without a medical license. It advises practitioners who lack a license not to present themselves as a physician, and not to prescribe drugs.
None of this means Ayurvedic care is unsafe or illegitimate. It means the checking that a license would normally do for you is something you have to do yourself. The rest of this guide shows you how.
What "Ayurvedic doctor" can mean in New Jersey
When you look through local listings, the people offering Ayurveda generally fall into three groups. Knowing which group a practitioner belongs to tells you a lot about their training.
Graduates of Ayurvedic medical colleges in India
In India, Ayurveda is a regulated medical system with its own degrees. The undergraduate degree is called Ayurvedacharya, or Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). Under the current national regulations it is a five-and-a-half-year program that ends with a one-year compulsory rotating internship. Education standards are set by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
A BAMS is substantial training, and it is fair to give it weight. But it is an Indian qualification. It does not give anyone a license to practice medicine in New Jersey, and a BAMS graduate working here without a separate US license is in the same unlicensed position as any other Ayurvedic practitioner in this country. If someone tells you they hold a BAMS, it is reasonable to ask which college granted it and whether they also hold a US license of any kind.
US-trained practitioners with NAMA certification
A number of US schools teach Ayurveda, and NAMA runs a certification board to test graduates. According to the NAMA Certification Board's page, it has launched two exams so far: one for Ayurvedic Health Counselors and one for Ayurvedic Practitioners. Its exam for the Ayurvedic Doctor level is still listed as under development. On its certification page, NAMA describes certification as showing entry-level competence in a category of practice, earned by finishing a NAMA-approved course of study, passing the exam and keeping up continuing education.
That is useful information, and certification shows commitment to the profession. Keep in mind that certification comes from a private professional body, not the state. As NCCIH puts it in its guide to credentialing, licensing and education, government agencies grant licenses while professional organizations certify, and neither one is a guarantee that a practitioner is qualified.
Licensed health professionals who have also trained in Ayurveda
The third group holds a US health license in another field, such as medicine, nursing or acupuncture, and has added Ayurvedic training on top. For you, the advantage is accountability: there is a state license you can look up and a board that oversees their conduct. The thing to check is the depth of the Ayurvedic training, because it ranges from a weekend workshop to years of classical study.
Any New Jersey license can be confirmed through the Division of Consumer Affairs license verification system. It takes a minute, and it is worth doing before any first appointment.
About your practitioner: Dr. Saikumar Gandapodi
Ayurvedic consultations at Netra Integrative Health Clinic are with Dr. Saikumar Gandapodi, DAOM, Dipl. OM, AP, L.Ac., the clinic's founder and director. He sees every patient himself, in person, at our South Plainfield office.
Because this article is about checking credentials, we will be precise about his. He is classically trained in Ayurvedic medicine, he is a graduate in Yoga Therapy, and he completed advanced clinical training in India. His state licenses are as a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in New Jersey and New York, and he is a board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Physician in Florida. As explained above, no state issues an Ayurvedic license, so his Ayurvedic practice rests on that classical training. You can confirm his New Jersey license through the state verification system, as you should for anyone you see. The "Dr." in his name comes from his clinical doctorate.
- DAOM: Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, from Five Branches University.
- Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine: Pacific College of Health and Science.
- Dipl. OM: national board certification in Oriental Medicine.
- L.Ac.: Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, New Jersey and New York.
- AP: board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Physician, Florida.
- Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy: classical Ayurvedic training, graduate training in Yoga Therapy, and advanced clinical training completed in India.
His approach is integrative. He draws on Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and Yoga Therapy, and he chooses among them according to what a patient's problem needs. In an Ayurvedic consultation that might mean an Ayurvedic assessment and plan on its own, or an Ayurvedic plan that also includes acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine where he thinks they will help. His areas of special interest are complex and chronic conditions, orthopedic disorders, fertility and internal medicine.
Dr. Gandapodi is known for taking on complex and advanced cases, including patients who have already seen other practitioners, Ayurvedic or otherwise, without results. People with several overlapping problems, or with symptoms their tests have not explained, make up much of his practice. No outcome can be promised in any individual case, and he will tell you honestly at the consultation what he thinks treatment can and cannot offer you. The condition pages on this website are written and clinically reviewed by him. More about him is on our team page.
How to choose an Ayurvedic doctor in NJ
NCCIH's tips on selecting a complementary health practitioner suggest researching the practitioner's background, sharing all your health conditions, and confirming they will work with your regular doctors. For Ayurveda in New Jersey, those principles turn into a short list of things to check before you commit.
- Ask exactly what their Ayurvedic training was. Which school, how long, and whether it included supervised clinical work with patients. "Trained in Ayurveda" can mean almost anything until you ask.
- Ask whether they hold any US health license. If they do, look it up on the state verification site. If they do not, you are relying entirely on their training and judgment, with no state oversight.
- Ask about experience with your problem. General wellness advice and the care of a chronic illness are different skills. If you have diabetes, an autoimmune disease or a heart condition, ask how often they see people like you and how they coordinate with physicians.
- Ask where their products come from. A careful practitioner can tell you who makes each formula, what is in it, and whether it has been tested for heavy metals. Vague answers here are a reason to slow down.
- Ask how they handle your prescription medicines. You want someone who reviews your medication list before suggesting herbs and who tells you never to stop a prescription without your prescribing doctor.
- Ask whether they will communicate with your physician. A practitioner who is willing to send a summary of your care to your doctor is more likely to be practicing safely.
- Ask how progress will be judged. Ayurvedic care for a long-standing problem often takes time, but there should still be a point at which you and the practitioner review whether it is helping.
A good practitioner will welcome these questions. If you meet resistance, that tells you something too.
Warning signs when you are comparing practitioners
Some signals should make you step back, whatever credentials the person lists:
- Advice to stop insulin, blood pressure medicine, thyroid medicine, blood thinners or any other prescription.
- Promises to cure a serious disease, or a fixed guarantee of results.
- Unlabeled powders or tablets, or products whose ingredients the practitioner will not disclose.
- Pressure to buy a large package of products or treatments at the first visit.
- A claim that pulse reading can replace blood tests, imaging or a diagnosis from your doctor.
- Dismissal of new or worsening symptoms as "detox" without any medical check.
That last point deserves emphasis. Our own Ayurveda page tells patients not to assume that fatigue or digestive changes are a sign of detoxification. New symptoms during any treatment should be reported, and some need a doctor.
Product safety: lead, mercury and arsenic
This is the part of Ayurveda that most deserves your attention, and it is one reason to work with a qualified practitioner instead of buying remedies on your own.
NCCIH reports that some Ayurvedic preparations contain lead, mercury or arsenic at levels that can be toxic, and that the FDA has warned that metals in some Ayurvedic products make them potentially harmful. Some Ayurvedic preparations include metals, minerals or gems as ingredients. The figures NCCIH cites are sobering. In a 2015 survey of people using Ayurvedic preparations, 40 percent had elevated blood lead levels, and some also had raised mercury. About one in four of the supplements tested had high levels of lead, and almost half had high levels of mercury. Arsenic poisoning from Ayurvedic products is rarer but has been reported.
A case reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows how this looks in practice. In a 2015 report from Wisconsin, a 64-year-old woman was admitted to hospital after weeks of worsening fatigue and shortness of breath. She was anemic, and her blood lead level was 85.8 micrograms per deciliter. She had been taking two Ayurvedic products made in India and bought online. Laboratory tests found large amounts of lead in one of them, along with arsenic and thallium. After she stopped the products and had a month of chelation treatment, her symptoms improved. The report advises doctors to consider lead poisoning when a patient taking Ayurvedic medicines has unexplained anemia.
Practical steps follow from this:
- Do not buy Ayurvedic medicines online from sellers you cannot identify.
- Bring every product you take, in its original packaging, to your consultation, so the practitioner can see exactly what is in it.
- Be especially careful during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and with anything given to children. NCCIH advises pregnant and nursing women to talk with their health care provider first, because some products may contain harmful ingredients.
- If you have taken Ayurvedic products for a long time and have unexplained fatigue, anemia, abdominal pain or other symptoms, tell your physician what you have been taking. A blood test can check for lead.
At Netra, any herbal medicine Dr. Gandapodi prescribes is chosen for you individually and checked against the medicines you already take. He will also review whatever you are using now and tell you if he thinks you should stop something.
What the research shows, in brief
NCCIH's summary is cautious. It notes that only a small number of clinical trials of Ayurvedic approaches have appeared in Western medical journals, and that few well-designed trials support them. The more promising results it lists are these:
- Knee osteoarthritis: a 2013 trial of 440 people compared two Ayurvedic plant-extract formulas with glucosamine sulfate and the drug celecoxib. All four gave similar reductions in pain and similar gains in function.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: a small NCCIH-funded pilot study in 2011, with 43 people, found an Ayurvedic treatment using 40 herbal compounds about as effective as methotrexate. NCCIH describes this as preliminary.
- Type 2 diabetes: a short trial of 89 people suggested a five-herb formula may help, though other researchers have said study designs are too weak for firm conclusions.
- Ulcerative colitis: turmeric, a common Ayurvedic herb, may help, but the two studies were small, with 10 and 89 people.
For most other conditions, NCCIH says there is little scientific evidence either way. We think you should know that before you start. It does not mean Ayurveda has nothing to offer; much of its practice, such as diet, sleep, daily routine and yoga, is hard to test in the way drug trials work. It does mean that anyone who claims Ayurveda is proven to cure a specific disease is overstating the evidence.
How Ayurveda works alongside conventional care
We practice Ayurveda as complementary care. It is used together with the care you get from your physicians and specialists, never in place of it. NCCIH gives the same advice: do not use Ayurveda as a reason to put off seeing a conventional doctor about a medical problem, and talk with your doctor before starting Ayurvedic products if you have a health condition.
In practice, that means a few simple rules at our clinic:
- Keep seeing your primary care doctor and your specialists, and keep taking your prescribed medicines.
- Do not stop or change a prescription because you have started Ayurvedic care. If your symptoms improve and you would like to reduce a dose, that decision belongs to the doctor who prescribed it.
- Tell all your doctors about any Ayurvedic herbs or treatments you use, so they have the whole picture. Some herbs interact with common medicines. NCCIH notes, for example, that ashwagandha may interact with medicines for diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid disease.
- If you agree, we will send your physician a short summary of the care you receive here. Doctors who would like to refer a patient can use our referring providers page.
Ayurveda and conventional medicine also look at problems differently, and that can be useful. Your physician's tests may show what is wrong with a particular organ. An Ayurvedic assessment looks at how your digestion, sleep, energy, stress and daily habits fit together. When the two are used side by side and both practitioners know about each other, you get the benefit of both views without the risks of running them separately.
What your first Ayurvedic consultation covers
Your first visit at Netra is a 60-minute initial consultation with Dr. Gandapodi. It is an assessment and a conversation. Treatment is generally not given on the same day, so plan for the first appointment to be about understanding your situation and agreeing on a plan.
The consultation usually covers:
- Your main concerns: what the problem is, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you have already tried.
- Your medical history: diagnoses, surgeries, test results and any imaging.
- Your family's health history.
- Diet, digestion and appetite: what and when you eat, and how your digestion behaves.
- Sleep, energy, stress and emotional health.
- All medicines and supplements, including any Ayurvedic or other herbal products.
Dr. Gandapodi will also take your pulse, look at your tongue and observe your general appearance. In Ayurveda these help to assess your constitution, described in terms of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and to identify where things are out of balance. Your dosha is judged from your physical characteristics, temperament and health tendencies taken together, not from any single test. None of the examination is painful.
Please bring:
- A photo ID.
- Your insurance card, if you think you may also have acupuncture, which is the only service billed to insurance.
- The latest complete blood work reports you have, either sent to us before the visit or brought on paper.
- A list of your medications and supplements with doses, plus the actual containers of any Ayurvedic or herbal products.
On the day, avoid a heavy meal or alcohol before the appointment. Because the tongue is part of the assessment, it helps not to scrape or brush it that morning and to skip foods or drinks that stain it, such as turmeric milk or strong tea.
By the end of the hour you should have a proposed plan. Depending on your problem, it may include changes to diet and daily routine, herbal medicines prescribed for you, Panchakarma, acupuncture, or a combination. You are welcome to take time to think it over. Our new patients page has more detail about booking and what to bring.
After the consultation: follow-ups and your plan
Follow-up consultations and treatment sessions are 30 minutes. At a follow-up, Dr. Gandapodi reviews how you have responded and adjusts the plan where needed.
The number of visits is not fixed. It depends on your condition and how you respond, and he will discuss the plan with you openly. Long-standing and complex conditions can respond to care, but they usually take time, and no specific result or time frame can be promised. A short written record of your symptoms, sleep and digestion between visits makes those reviews much more accurate than memory.
If your plan includes Panchakarma, the clinic uses the safer Panchakarma procedures, selected to suit your needs and sometimes combined with herbal medicines and acupuncture. Not every classical procedure is needed or appropriate for every patient. You can read more on our Panchakarma page and in our separate article on Panchakarma in New Jersey.
Ayurvedic care at Netra Integrative Health Clinic
Our Ayurveda page describes the system and the problems people most often bring to us. Patients commonly seek Ayurvedic care, usually alongside conventional treatment, for digestive complaints such as bloating, reflux, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome; skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne; joint and back pain; hormonal and menstrual concerns; and stress, anxiety and poor sleep. Many come for complex problems that have not settled with other care.
What we offer is an individual assessment and plan, which may draw on diet and lifestyle guidance, Ayurvedic herbal medicine, Panchakarma, and, where useful, acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine. Ayurveda as a tradition includes many body therapies, and not every one of them is offered here. If you are hoping for a specific therapy you have had elsewhere, call before booking so we can tell you whether it is available and appropriate for you.
For families in Edison and Piscataway, we have written a separate, more local guide: finding an Ayurvedic doctor near Edison and Piscataway. Patients who are mainly interested in acupuncture may find our guide to acupuncture near Edison more useful.
Insurance and payment for Ayurvedic care
Ayurvedic care is not billed to insurance at our clinic. That includes Ayurvedic consultations, Ayurvedic herbal medicine and Panchakarma. Chinese herbal medicine and Transdermal Medication Therapy are also self-pay. Insurance applies only to acupuncture.
If your plan includes acupuncture as well, the insurance rules are worth knowing. Dr. Gandapodi is in network with most insurance plans. The clinic does not participate in Medicare or Medicaid, but it accepts most Medicare Advantage plans that include acupuncture. If you were hurt in a car accident, the clinic also bills auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) for acupuncture only, not for Ayurvedic care. Mention the accident when you book, and have your auto insurance claim number ready. We offer a free benefits check through our insurance verification form, which takes three to five business days. More detail is on our insurance page.
For self-pay care, we accept HSA, FSA and HRA cards. Whether your plan counts Ayurvedic care as an eligible expense is up to your plan administrator, so check with them first. We also accept CareCredit. Discounts are available for seniors, and our financial assistance program helps households that qualify. Call the office and we will explain the options.
Symptoms that need a doctor first
Ayurvedic care is for ongoing and chronic problems. It is not the right place to start with new or serious symptoms. Contact your doctor or go to an emergency department for:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or sudden weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking.
- Vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, or severe abdominal pain.
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or loss of appetite with nausea, which can signal liver injury. NCCIH notes rare cases of liver injury linked to ashwagandha supplements, and liver damage in some people taking high-absorption curcumin (turmeric) products.
- Swelling of the face or throat, hives or difficulty breathing after starting a new herb.
- Unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, or a lump that is new.
- Unexplained fatigue, anemia, abdominal pain or headaches if you take Ayurvedic products, which can point to lead exposure.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for a child, talk with your obstetric or pediatric provider before using any Ayurvedic product.
Where we are
Netra Integrative Health Clinic is at 5001 Hadley Road, Suite 210, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, in northern Middlesex County. Parking is free, and the suite is on the second floor with elevator access. We are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, by appointment only. Directions are on our location page.
Questions about seeing an Ayurvedic doctor in New Jersey
Is Ayurveda licensed in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey has no Ayurvedic license, and according to NCCIH no state requires one. Check whether a practitioner holds some other US health license, and look it up on the state verification site.
Is a BAMS degree recognized as a medical license here?
No. A BAMS is a real Indian medical qualification, regulated by NCISM, but it does not license anyone to practice medicine in New Jersey.
What does NAMA certification mean?
It means the person passed an exam set by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association's certification board after completing approved training. It is voluntary and comes from a professional body, not the state.
Is Dr. Gandapodi an Ayurvedic doctor?
He is classically trained in Ayurvedic medicine and practices it as part of an integrative approach. His doctorate is in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and his state licenses are in acupuncture and herbal medicine. There is no state Ayurvedic license for anyone to hold.
Will I get treatment at the first visit?
Usually not. The first appointment is a 60-minute consultation. Treatment generally starts at a later visit once you have agreed on a plan.
Can I keep taking my prescription medicines?
Yes, and you should. Never stop or change a prescription without the doctor who prescribed it. Any herbs we prescribe are checked against your current medicines.
Should I bring the Ayurvedic products I already use?
Yes. Bring them in their original packaging. Dr. Gandapodi will review them and tell you if he has concerns.
Are Ayurvedic medicines safe?
It depends on the product, its source, and your health. Some products sold in the US have been found to contain lead, mercury or arsenic. Use only products a qualified practitioner has reviewed, and tell your doctor what you take.
Is Ayurvedic care covered by insurance?
Not at our clinic. Insurance applies to acupuncture only. Ayurvedic consultations, herbal medicines and Panchakarma are self-pay.
Does auto insurance cover Ayurvedic care after a car accident?
No. The clinic bills auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) for acupuncture only. Ayurvedic care is not billed to any insurance.
Can Ayurveda help if other treatments have not worked?
Sometimes. Dr. Gandapodi sees many patients whose earlier care gave no results. He will tell you at the consultation whether he thinks a different approach has a reasonable chance of helping.
How long before I notice a difference?
It varies by person and condition, and no time frame can be promised. Chronic and complex problems usually take longer. Your plan will include points at which progress is reviewed.
Can I have Ayurvedic care while pregnant?
Tell us if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Several herbs are not safe in pregnancy, and we ask that your obstetric provider is aware of any care you receive.
Booking an Ayurvedic consultation
To book, use our appointment page or call (908) 402-7301. When you book online, we confirm the appointment by text and email. Same-day appointments are limited, so call if you need to be seen soon. If you need to cancel, please give at least 24 hours' notice by phone. Answers to other common questions are on our FAQ page.
This article is general health information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Regulatory and research information comes from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and its certification board, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, linked above.